BNR today went down 0-1 to Mohammedan Sporting in their Calcutta Football League Super Division match at the Howrah Municipal Stadium.

The result, however, does not depict the true picture of the match. BNR held sway for most of the match, and wasted good chances. And, during a period when they were rather lax in defence and felt a trifle too lazy to offset that with offensive action, they conceded the matchwinner in the 16th minute of the second session of play.

Off an attacking posture at the BNR goalmouth, Mohammedan Sporting forced a direct free-kick. The ‘wall’ was erected and while everyone expected another aborted effort, veteran hand Ali Reza ran in from the left and, instead of trying to shot through or over the ‘wall’, tapped a short pass to his left.

As it turned out, this small set-piece fooled the BNR defenders, and Amjad Hussain charged in the box and slotted past BNR goalkeeper Subhas Ghosh.

Chaotic atmosphere

The Howrah Municipal Stadium ground today probably presents a more decent surface than any in the Maidan. The grass is fine, and underfoot conditions firm. However, the stands and atmosphere today were chaotic, to say the least.

Two blocks of the stands (the main stands) were open today, offering around 6,000 to seat. No less than 8,000 Mohammedan Sporting supporters forced their way in. The Howrah Police was in a quandary and there were bouts of lathicharge.

Several Mohammedan Sporting members pushed in with membership cards of the earlier season and the one before that. Not many seem to have renewed their allegiance with the club, paying the money required.

The Rs 2 tickets were lapped up, and then, at a small side gate, the pressure mounted. The gate broke (even the steel structure was missing thereafter) and the hordes poured in. The police watched helplessly.

Such a situation could quickly develop into a disaster of severe proportions in case there is trouble in the stands. The Howrah Police’s inexperience in handling such situations showed up.

Slow-paced match

The match itself was slow and unimpressive, and BNR made the better moves. In the fifth minute Partha Mitra shot into Mohammedan Sporting goalkeeper Imran Khan who gave a good display today. Seven minutes later the hardworking Balai Mondal sent a pass to the goalmouth but Moin-ul Haq shot out. In the 17th minute Mitra headed down to Mondal but the latter’s shot came off the far post.

Action was restricted mostly to the Mohammedan Sporting defensive third. Mohammedan Sporting started a series of attacks in the second half and the goal was the final outcome of that. BNR have now lost both their outings, having gone down 0-3 to Bhratri Sangha in their opening encounter.

Tollygunge Agragami opened their Super Division league campaign on a sound note at Kishore Bharati Stadium today.

Amal Dutta’s men had little difficulty in dismissing SAIL 3-1 on a rain-drenched turf. After Moses Owira, Shasthi Duley and Partha Sarathi Dey had sealed SAIL’s fate, Supriya Dasgupta pulled one back in injury time.

Amazingly, the match was played without a fourth referee. Udayan Halder, the man in charge, handled the reserve official’s job from the middle. The absence of first aid at the ground also caused problems for the players.

SAIL hardly made any attempt to make their presence felt as Tollygunge rode roughshod over them from the very outset.

The non-existent SAIL forwardline gave Amitava Chanda ample time to go on the overlap. With Duley and Khemtang Paite controlling the action on the midfield, Tollygunge had a gala time. It was one-way traffic as new recruit Adaola Adairi used the left flank to good effect with his powerful runs and good distribution. Moses could have scored at least on three more occasions had he not shot wide. But his ability to reach the right position in nick of time drew plaudits from the moderate turnout.

It was combination that fetched Tollygunge their opening goal in the 13th minute. Adairi got past a couple of defenders, floated the ball from the left which found Moses inside the penalty box. The Nigerian scored with a left-footed volley that gave goalkeeper Parveen Singh no time to react.

Tollygunge scored again in the fifth minute of the second half. Adairi’s cross from the left caught Singh in two minds. He missed the flight once he rushed out to intercept. Moses, lurking nearby, also failed in his attempt to nod it home. As the ball lay stuck in the slush near the goalline, Duley rushed to tap it into the net.

SAIL, by now, were resigned to their fate. The defenders struggled to keep the rival forwards at bay. Moses missed two sitters during this period — once he failed to head into an empty net and then he slipped and failed to connect the ball. The third goal came from a penalty after Sandip Saha had handled the ball inside the box. Partha Sarathi placed the ball to the left of the goalkeeper.

SAIL struck more of a freak goal that must have also taken Supriya by surprise. His attempted lob from the right landed inside the net with the goalkeeper woefully out of position.

Former National League champions Mohun Bagan will tomorrow try to present a more respectable show than their narrow win on the Super Division opener.

However, considering the fine manner in which Bhratri Sangha won over BNR in their first match, the issue is not going to be settled easily for the home team.

Shabbir Ali’s wards, especially Christian Okolonko, showed that they knew where the goal exactly was. Subrata Bhattacharya’s wards, on the other hand, look a little dazed.

Today, Mohun Bagan registered Bungo Singh of Air India, wingback Rajesh Pandey of Mahindra United and Brazilian Amouri Da’Silva also returned. One wonders why this particular Brazilian will be welcome, but maybe Bungo will be a help.

If the ground conditions are slushy, Bhratri may still have the last laugh. But what will definitely happen is a keen tussle and no pushover second match for Mohun Bagan.

EASY FOR RAILWAY FC

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Calcutta, July 13:

Railway FC beat Rajasthan 2-0 in the first division group A league at Mohammedan Sporting ground. Surajit Karmakar struck twice for the winners.

After appointing Karsan Ghavri as coach well in advance of the Ranji Trophy season, CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya had a tete-a-tete with the junior and senior selectors today. Later, newly appointed physio Dr Vece Paes also called on Dalmiya.

According to sources, Dalmiya stressed on a balanced mixture of juniors and seniors while naming the state probables. Practice will begin after Ghavri arrives in the city on July 27.

Sambaran’s donation

Former Bengal skipper Sambaran Banerjee handed over the pair of gloves he used during Bengal’s successful Ranji campaign in 1989-90 to CAB’s proposed collection of souvenirs and mementoes.

BANGALORE RACES/ AVEROFF ENJOYS THIN EDGE

FROM WILLIAM TELL

Bangalore, July 13:

The Derby weekend begins tomorrow with the running of the 1,400m B.T.C. Anniversary Cup. The three horses most likely to be involved at the finish in the race, a terms event for four-year-olds and over, are the in-form Tempt Me Not, Averoff and Bold Chieftan.

All the three stand out way above their nine opponents on their current form and previous meetings against their rivals this season. There is little or nothing to choose from among them who are in the pink of condition. It may be a close and exciting finish. However, the one who is tipped to come out by a thin edge is the Darius-ward Averoff with Aslam Kader in the saddle. Going by her battling second to Six Speed last time out, she may hold sway.

SELECTIONS

2 pm: Air Strike 1. Different Story 2. Fugleman 3.

2.30 pm: Ace of Pace 1. Diamond Harbour 2. Seat of The Master 3.

3 pm: Pettalumma 1. Tal 2. Marvel Shire 3.

3.30 pm: Always Dancing 1. Carnival Craze 2. Silvanus 3.

4 pm: Averoff 1. Bold Chieftan 2. Tempt Me Not 3.

4.30 pm: Daggers Drawn 1. The Archer 2. Donna Mia 3.

5 pm: Hope And Faith 1. Flying Scotsman 2. Great Occasion 3.

5.30 pm: Count My Stride 1. Royal Caribbean 2. Tina’s Turn 3.

Day’s Best: Air Strike

Double: Hope And Faith & Count My Stride.

BANGALORE RACES/ 8 TO FIGHT FOR TOMORROW’S CLASSIC

FROM OUR TURF CORRESPONDENT

Bangalore, July 13:

Six colts and two fillies will face the starter for the prestigious 2,000m KingfisherDerby Bangalore on Sunday. The winner of the Derby, normally emerge from among those who occupy the top three slots in the the Bangalore Colt’s, and Fillies Trial Stakes classics held last month. Therefore, it looks a three horse race with Snow Dew representing the fair sex while Royal Gladiator and Royal Liberator pitching for the cause of the male chauvinist who have always been a dominant factor in any Derby around the world.

Snow Dew, a Razeen-Snow chestnut filly is a runaway winner of the 1,600m Fillies Stakes. Royal Gladiator (Honour And Glory-Goodnight Moon dark bay colt) was hard-pressed to beat Royal Liberator (Green Forest-Figure Libre chestnut colt) in the Colt’s over an identical course. The Derby trip, however, goes two furlongs extra which makes or breaks even a champion horse unless it is a blend of speed and stamina.

However, a majority of the racing fraternity here predicts Snow Dew as the likely winner of the Derby because of her manner of victory in the Fillies’ Stakes. The following are the opinions of some of the professions:

S. Ganapathy: My filly Snow Dew has improved with every run. She will be a hard nut to crack. Whoever beats her is the winner.

S. Padmanabhan: My horse Royal Gladiator is in the pink of condition and he should not be written off. He will be involved at the finish giving his best.

Arjun Mangalorkar: My ward Royal Liberator was unlucky and went down fighting by a narrow margin due to hampered passage. Over this trip, he will be a different proposition and can spring a surprise.

B. Prakash: Going by her classic runs, my filly Snow Dew will take some beating. To win, they will all to bring out lots extra.

Malesh Narredu: Beaten narrowly by Snow Dew who was at five kg weight advantage, my colt Royal Gladiator will not go down without a fight.

Y. Srinath: Royal Liberator was unlucky to go down due to being hampered run and failing to get a clear passage when it mattered most. Over this trip, he is the surprise package.

In the last decade, four colts and two fillies have completed the classic double. They are, colts Astounding in 1992, Cape Dance (1994), Bold Gesture (1995) and Star Supreme (1997) and fillies — Littleover in 1993 and Santorini Star (1996). Two fillies who missed out narrowly were Averoff in 1999 when surprised by Star Chieftan and Six Speed who went down by a whisker last year to stablemate Allaire. Who will emulate the above six? The answer will come shortly after 4 pm on Sunday.

The following are the runners, trainers, riders, weights and draw numbers: